The past few years have shown great potential for ewoca³ to grow further. Even though until now only youth work institutions from North Rhine-Westphalia and their international partners could participate, organisations from other Federal States repeatedly have voiced their interest. For they as well have demand for a stable network for international youth work and supporting structures.

Thanks to funding from the Innovation fund of the Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth (BMFSFJ) youth work institutions from Brandenburg, Schleswig-Holstein and Thuringia can now, for the first time, become part of the ewoca³ network. In the years 2015 to 2017, and together with two European partners each, they will conceive and realise innovative workcamp projects. Within the framework of the ewoca³(+) — for everyone! programme they continue to develop existing practice in non-formal education through new forms of communication and cooperation. This new programme as well is targeted towards those youths, which usually have little chances of participating in international projects.

Such an exemplary and comprehensive funding programme is dependent on sound financing. We are working on making the opportunities of ewoca³ and ewoca³(+) – for everyone! available beyond the current funding phase and to other Federal States as well. The support staff at IBB and the qualification programme for youth work professionals make important contributions towards the professionalisation of international youth work. Through close collaboration with very diverse organisations, new target groups, usually remote from exchanges, are included. Now is the time to secure the successful programme for the future and sustainably strengthen international youth work in all Federal States. The youths taking part in ewoca³ today, are the Europe of tomorrow.